California Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered state school districts to plan for remote learning when the new school year starts, unless they meet stringent guidelines to ensure the safety of students and staff, according to Politico.
The policy flies directly in the face of wishes of President Trump and US Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, who view the continued closure of school buildings as a threat to US economic growth and Trump’s reelection chances.
Currently, more than half of California’s 58 counties are on the state’s “watch list” for coronavirus outbreaks. Those counties are primarily in southern California and densely populated areas in other sections of the state.
Reopening schools would require those areas to remain off the watch list for 14 consecutive days. It would also requires schools to undertake safety measures, such as having staff and students in third grade and above to wear masks.
“Learning is non-negotiable. The virus will be with us for a year or more, and school districts must provide meaningful instruction in the midst of this pandemic. In California, health data will determine when a school can be physically open – and when it must close – but learning should never stop. Students, staff, and parents all prefer in-classroom instruction, but only if it can be done safely,” Newsom said in a statement Friday.